Slideshow: People & Faces of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR’s premier series, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, is the most popular sporting event in America. 17 of the 20 highest attendance sporting events belong to NASCAR. This weekend, I decided to focus more on the people of NASCAR than the racing. Enjoy!

Mega-fans!A Denny Hamlin fan shows NASCAR fan loyalty runs deep.NASCAR’s pre-race festivities are an entire circus of activities and personalities. Here, a couple of fans participate in style.Crowds of fans wait anxiously, memorabilia and pen ready, for that moment they see their favorite driver. One by one, as each driver made their way past, hundreds of voices yelled out each of their names in hopes of gaining their attention.Bubba Wallace signs a hero card for a fan. Wallace drives the legendary 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports, and has quickly become one of the most popular drivers in this, his first full season with NASCAR.NASCAR icon, and all-time winningest driver, the legendary Richard Petty greets a fan in the garage area.Kevin Harvick works his way through the gauntlet of autographing seeking fans on his way to pit road for opening ceremonies.Driver of the #31, Ryan Newman, is joined by fans on his walk from the garage to pit lane for opening ceremonies.Toni Breidinger, USAC’s all-time winningest female driver, on the pre-race grid for the Auto Club 400 NASCAR race.Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott in pre-grid with other racers and crew during the playing of the National Anthem.Aric Almirola sliding in for 4 tires and gas.Kurt Busch (41), William Byron (24), and Erik Jones (20) at more than 200mph!Pit stop fury. 4 new tires and a tank of gas in just seconds.A rear tireman jumps from the pit wall as Ryan Blaney’s #12 approaches.Kevin Harvick was coming off of a 3-win streak. Damage from an early incident closed the door on a 4-peat.

I learned to use the camera at a race track because I was a gear head first. I thrive on the ability to tell a story, to stoke emotions and more than anything, to focus on the human condition in all parts of life.